UK Pet Sector Series Of Surveys

The Pet Care Trust is undertaking a State of the Sector survey of pet product retailers. Questionnaires are being distributed to every pet shop and garden centre with a pet retail department, asking for responses to 50 of the most pressing questions currently facing pet retailers.

The survey focusses on a number of key subject areas asking about what each retailer does; about its business; staff; IT and licensing. The survey is being run by Pet Care Trust Trading - the newly developed trading arm of the charity.

The project began at the end of May - so we're a bit behind in our reporting. But launching the survey, Janet Nunn, CEO Pet Care Trust, said:

"Without doubt, pet shops face challenges from every direction. A recent PFMA [Pet Food Manufacturers Association] survey put the number of pet-owning households at 43%, down from 54% in 1999, and this, along with an increasingly competitive market and new ways of selling to consumers, means that it is more important than ever for pet retailers to have a voice”.

She continued:

"We need at least a 10% response rate for the results to be significant enough to influence government and opinion formers. We got that in 2005 and need it again now."

This survey to pet retailers is the first in a series to be undertaken over the next year to the pet care sector. It will be followed by a survey of groomers this month July and kennels & catteries early in 2009.

The results of the current survey will be available to all respondents and made public once analysed this autumn, says the Trust.